Beer-faucet.



PATENTED JUNE 11, 1907. P. E. BRUEQKNER.

BEER FAUGBT. APPLiOATION FILED MAB. 24, 1906.

g k a .M Ema UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BEER-FAUCET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. June 11, 1907.

Application filed March 24,1906. Serial No. 307,948.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH E. BRUEOK- NER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lawrence, in the county of Essex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBeer- Faucets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to faucets for drawing liquids from casks, barrelsand other receptacles and more particularly to that class of faucetswhich remain in the barrel with their valves kept closed, until, by theinsertion of a spigot, their valves are opened to permit the passage ofliquid from the barrel, which then passes through the faucet and spigotand is controlled by the cock of the spigot.

My invention is especially adapted for barrels, kegs and other packagescontaining beer or ale. It is well known that in this class of barrels,it is necessary to coat the interior with pitch, varnish, or similarmaterial, in order to keep the taste of the wood out of the liquid andto prevent the gases etc from leaking. As the class of faucet to whichmy invention relates is intended to remain in the barrel at all times,it occurs that while the melted pitch or varnish is being applied, itvery often gets into the valve of the faucet and renders it useless.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a permanent faucet,which, when not in use, will present a perfectly tight metal joint onthe inside of the cask, a joint which can not be clogged and which willprotect the working parts and the rubber washer from injury by the hotpitch.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure1 is a section of the faucet with the valve open. Fi 2 is a view of thespigot as attached to tie faucet, the faucet being shown in partialsection and with the valve closed. Fig. 3 is a top view of the faucetwith the working parts of the valve removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the topof the valve with the cap removed. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the valvewith the cap and cylinder removed. Fig. 6 shows the form of legs 34.

A is a portion of the barrel or cask, into which is forced or preferablyscrewed, the hollow cylinder B. C is the spigot. D is the cap. E is thevalve.

The cylinder B is of an old and well known construction and comprises aflange 10 which is on the outside of the barrel and screw threads 11.Its inside chamber 12, in which is the straight groove and the obliquegrooves 13, is narrowed by the annular shoulder 15. Cylinder B istapered toward the end opposite flange 10, and on the outside at thisend, it is grooved to form an annular recess 16 and an annular shoulder17. This smaller end, which is inside the barrel, is closed but has acircular orifice 18 and two oval orifices 19.

The spigot C is provided with a cock 21 and receives the liquid throughorifices 22 and discharges the liquid through the orifice at 23. Itcarries an elastic washer 24 which rests against shoulder 15 and iscompressed so as to make a tight joint by the action of inserting spigotC and turning it to lock it in place. This locking is done by the actionof projections 25 which pass down the groove 20 and force inward spigot0' when it is turned, as they are then forced along the oblique grooves13, 13. They thus also hold spigot C in place.

The valve E comprises a plunger 31 which is circular in form, as shownin Fig. 4, and has a circular orifice in the center and also carries aring 33, from which project two series of double legs 34, which areadapted to pass through orifices 19 and serve as guides for valve E. Anelastic washer circles the ring 33 and serves to make a tight jointbetween valve E and shoulder 17 Plunger 31 and washer 35 are screwthreaded to permit the metal cap D to be screwed upon them, therebyitself being held in place and also holding washer 35 in place. Upon thetop of plunger 31 are two oppositely disposed sectional end earns 36 and37.

A stem F passes through orifice 18 and up through the orifice in plunger31 and comprises a triangular or squared end adapted to engage a similartriangular or square orifice in the inner end of spigot C, a shoulder51, a cylindrical portion 52 which passes through orifice 18; a squaredportion where it passes through cylinder 43 and a screw threaded end 54.The wings 41 and 42 are extended from a cylinder 43, which is adapted topass through the orifice in plunger 31 and is squared on its insidesurface to fit the squared section of the stem F which comes between 52and 54. The nuts 44 hold the cylinder and wings in place on the stem F.A spiral spring 45 tends to force valve E away from the end of cylinderB and opens and locked in place.

the valve at the right time. This spring 45 is preferably made from aflat strip of metal so wound as to form a helical spiral capable ofbeing com ressed into itself, as shown, but an ordinary ielical springmay be used.

The action is as follows :Fig. 1 shows the valve open, and-in thisposition the liquid can pass through between shoulder 17 and the edge ofcap D, thence through orifices 19 into chamber 12 and from there throughthe orifices 22 into the spigot. This is the position of the parts whenspigot O is inserted It will be seen that the normal tendency of spring45 is to keep the valve open. To close the valve the spigot O is given aquarter turn and this turns the stem F, carrying with it the wings 41,42. As wings 41, 42 turn, they are forced along the slanting surfaces ofcams 36, 37, and as shoulder 51 prevents any yielding by stem F, it Willbe seen that plunger 31 carrying cap D and washer 35 are forced againstshoulder 17 at the same time that the edge of cap D is forced down intoannular groove 16, thus closing the faucet. As the ca D is screwthreaded, it can be adjusted wit the utmost nicety to make a perfectlytight joint with cylinder B and this joint effectively prevents thepitch or varnish from touching or getting into the working parts.

It will be understood that, as is usual with this class of device,spigot C is inserted and given a quarter turn, which has the effect oflocking it in place and also opening valve E, thus permitting the liquidto be discharged. When all or enough liquid has been drawn, a quarterturn in the o posite direction is given to spigot C, which a lows it tobe withdrawn and also closes the valve as shown in Fig. 2.

The advantages of my invention are that the rubber Washer being insideof cap D, is protected from the heat of the pitch. Besides this, anyworkman can replace the washer with a new one as it is slipped on and isnot burned or glued on, as are some others. Also, as there is notwisting of the washer but only a straight ressure, the washer wearsmuch longer. he cap D can not be unscrewed when the valve is closed, onaccount of the great friction of washer 35 which is then undercompression. The spigot can never get caught in the faucet, as all theparts are positive in their action and the plunger 31 cannot turn onaccount of the guide legs.

I prefer to make all the parts of tinned brass.

What I claim as my invention and desire to cover by Letters-Patent is 1.In a beer faucet, a hollow cylinder comprising'a closed inner endrovided with a central circular aperture an passages for the liquid, alungerrovided with sectional end cams anci le s a apted to pass throughsaid passages an to serve as'guides, a screw cap the end cams, a springadapted to keep the valve open, a cap carried by the valve, and a spigotadapted to turn its stem and so operate the valve.

3. .In a beer faucet, a hollow cylinder comprising a closed inner endprovided with apertures for the passage of liquid together with anannular shoulder and an annular channel, combined with a cam actuatedspring valve adapted to slide to and from the end of said cylinder, anelastic washer adapted to engage said shoulder and carried by the valve,a screw cap carried by the valve and adapted to enter and close theannular recess in the cylinder, and a spigot adapted to operate thevalve as described.

4. In a beer faucet, a hollow cylinder com-' prising a closed inner endprovided with a central orifice and passages for the liquid, a stemadapted to pass through said central orifice and having a shoulder tohold it in place, wings carried by the stem, a plunger comprisingsectional end cams and a ring from which project guide legs, a helicalspring located between the plunger and cylinder end, and an elasticwasher carried by the ring of the plunger, combined with a screw capcarried by the plunger, and a spigot adapted to turn the stem asdescribed.

5. In a beer faucet, a hollow cylinder comprising a closed inner endprovided with a central orifice and passages for the liquid, a stemadapted to pass through said central orifice and having a shoulder tohold it in place, wings carried by the stem, a plunger comprisingsectional end cams and a ring from which project guide legs, a helicalspring located between the plunger and cylinder end, an elastic Washercarried by the ring of the plunger, and a spigot adapted to turn thestem as described.

6. In a beer faucet, a hollow cylinder comprising a closed inner endprovided with a central orifice and passages for the liquid togetherwith an annular shoulder and an an nular channel, a stem adapted to passthrough said central orifice and having a shoulder to hold it in place,wings carried by the stem, a plunger comprising sectional end cams and aring from which project guide legs, a helical spring located between theplunger and the cylinder end, and an elastic Washer carried by the ringof the plunger, combined with a screw cap carried by the plunger, and aelastic washer carried by the ring of the plunto spigot adapted to turnthe stem as described. ger.

7. In a faucet valve for beer barrels, avalve In testimony whereof Iaflix my signature seat, a stem comprising a shoulder and adaptinpresence of two Witnesses.

ed to pass through said seat, win 's carried by the stem, a plungeroomprising seotional FRIEDRICH BRUECKNER end cams and aring from whichproject guide Witnesses:

legs, a helical coiled band spring interposed HENRY J. KOELLEN,

between the plunger and valve seat, and an I PAUL R. CLAY.

